William f



W. P. MATTHEWS.

PUZZLE.

Patefitd Feb 2, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM F. MATTHEWS, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,212, dated February 2, 1897. Application filed July 20, 1896. Serial No. 599,803. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MATTHEws, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in puzzles of that class in which a number of spheres or other movable objects are caused to be moved about within a box or other receptacle, the object being to get such spheres into predetermined positions.

The present invention has for its object to improve upon this class of puzzles and produce what I term the Tom Platt puzzle, which is of novel construction and adapted to be played in a new way. It comprises a box or receptacle having at the center a spiral passage in the shape of the letter P and this within a substantially circular inclosure having at diametrically opposite points pens or the like with contracted entrances, and curves at or near the said entrances. The game is to fill all the corners first and then to fill the center letter. It will afford amusement to both young and old.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a top plan of the puzzle. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a box or other receptacle, preferably of pasteboard, of the required size, and within the same is arranged the design which constitutes the puzzle. The outlines are raised and are formed by preference of pasteboard glued or otherwise secured to the bottom of the box. The outlines of the central portion are substantially circular, with the pockets or receptacles B at diametrically opposite points, with the opposite walls convex upon their adjacent faces, so as to form the contracted passages, as shown. These may be covered with any suitable material, as shown. The covering should come down to the curve, as shown.

D are blocks glued or otherwise secured to the bottom of the box and formed with the curves E, as shown, one between each two pockets, as shown. 7

In the center of the circle is a spiral, preferably in the form of the letter P, with the stem thereof open at the end and the same communicating with the passage within the letter.

G are marbles or balls loosely placed within the inclosure formed by the walls of the circle. The object of the game is to first get one of these balls in each of the curves E and after this is done, which is to be accomplished by tipping the box and without touching the balls with the hands, get any predetermined number of the balls within the central letter. The balls may be kept within the pockets, or they may be closed and the balls kept within the box or inclosure I, arranged between two of the curves, as shown, and communicating with the space inclosed by the circle through the narrow passage J, as shown. In the corners of the box I are the round pieces of wood M to prevent the balls getting anchored in the corners.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

That is claimed as new is- The puzzle described consisting of a box, a circular inclosure therein with diametrically opposite pockets having contracted passages with coverings over the same, curves adjacent thereto, a passage in the form of the letter P at the center, and a box leading from the inclosure and having rounded blocks at the corners, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. F. MATTHEWS.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. DALY, U HENRY NEUSOHAFER. 

